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Bowlers thrilled about Medford Open By TIM TROWER Marshall Holman, fresh off his gig as a national television bowling analyst, took a bite of his lunch, the Marshall Holman Chicken Sandwich. That sentence says a mouthful. Marshall Holman is big because of bowling, and bowling is big in large part because of Marshall Holman. For that reason, the announcement that Medford will host a Professional Bowlers Association Tour event at Lava Lanes Jan. 7-13, is significant on many fronts. Holman honed his game here, took it to the national stage and caught the nation�s attention like a slap in the face. He mixed excellence with flamboyance and it proved to be a Hall of Fame concoction. Chris Barnes, the 1998 rookie of the year and one of the most recognizable members of the new generation of PBA bowlers, was among the millions watching. He was on hand Friday at Lava Lanes for the formal announcement of the three-year deal between the lavish center, owned by Ric Donnelly, and the PBA to host the Medford Open. "He�s the reason the PBA is like it is right now," said Barnes after trying out the lanes and stringing together a dozen or so strikes. "He was young and energetic and could do things on the lanes no one else could. He made the ball dance, and he did it with fire and emotion. He and Mark Roth were like that. I grew up watching those guys. "Holman long ago put Medford on the map for the bowling crowd. Now the PBA is pulling into town. Holman isn�t the reason the PBA is coming. That credit goes to Donnelly and Lava Lanes, which all of the visiting pros, including Hall of Famer Dave Husted and Roseburg native Bryon Smith, said is as nice a facility as any in the country. That it�s Holman�s home � he bowls in Lava Lanes� scratch league � gives folks in the association a warm-fuzzies feeling. "It makes a difference," Steve Miller, president of the PBA, said in a phone interview. "We�ll be going where we think we�ll be accepted and where people appreciate bowling. All the variables, the great facility, the interest, it meets everybody�s needs. But having the history solidifies the fit. It makes it that much more appealing." "It speaks to the root of our sport," said Barnes. It�s especially special for Holman. He has 22 career victories and is seventh all-time in career earnings with nearly $1.7 million. "This is going to be great," he said after arriving from a senior tournament in Beaverton and grabbing his sandwich. "In all the years I�ve been in bowling, to have the national tour come to Medford, my hometown, I never, ever thought that would happen. "Holman�s tour days are over, for the most part, and Husted competes only part time. However, both are excited about bowling in this event. They will find lanes much tougher than Holman bowls on in league. Barnes figures the pro tour makes lanes 20 to 30 pins tougher than they normally are. Some of the area�s top bowlers are expected to enter the pro event, and studies have shown, Holman said, that averages tend to drop dramatically when local players get on PBA profiled lanes. "In today�s game, diversity is very important," said Holman, who plans to use his influence to attract as many of the game�s stars as he can. "You have to be able to throw a direct ball, hook the ball, have the ability to change speeds, put more spin on it or give it more forward roll. It�s become much more technical. "It�s the new PBA, but for more reasons than equipment. In May, the association made eye-opening announcements, including plans to dramatically increase prize money and that a new three-year deal to televise the PBA on ESPN had been struck. First prize is now $40,000, up from the former $15,000 to $20,000.The standard PBA tourney total prize fund is now $196,000.At least 64 places will be paid on most tour stops, and 64th would earn $1,000.The influx of money is the result of new ownership. Three former bigwigs at Microsoft � Chris Peters, Rob Glaser and Mike Slade � bought the PBA and hired Miller and commissioner Ian Hamilton, formerly with Nike, to run the show. Holman is of the old guard, but his heart is with the PBA. "My days as a touring player are behind me," he said, "but I want to see the PBA get better and flourish. "It�s happening right before his eyes. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.